Drum roll please: On October 16th, the yarn book I've been working on for more than two years will finally leave my imagination and enter the real world. I'm thrilled, and I'm eager to share more about it with you.

I'm in no position to offer an unbiased review, but I can give you a sneak peek at what's inside. This week I share my Maine Morning Mitts fingerless mitts pattern, a delightfully simple project that knits up quickly and is an ideal showcase for gorgeous colorful yarns. And, for those of you who like this kind of thing, I also offer a more personal, behind-the-scenes look at why and how The Knitter's Book of Yarn came to be.

This Weekend
Baltimore is buzzing this week as Stitches East takes over the Baltimore Convention Center from October 11-14. But that's not the only event taking place this weekend. In Chicago we have Yarn Con, a smaller yarn-centric upstart celebration at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse on October 13th. And in Bellaire, Michigan, we have the second half of Interweave's venerable Spin-Off Autumn Retreat. I've been there this week and will give you a full report when I get home.

In the Forums: Holiday Brainstorming
If you knit gifts for the holidays, it's time to start thinking about what you're going to knit, and for whom. One Forum member has done just this and realized that she's out of ideas. If you are too, join us for a discussion of fresh new gift ideas for this year's holiday season.